Baba Taraknath Temple Tarakeswar — Attraction in West Bengal

Disclaimer :- Star Rating here is purely for our experience. Baba is beyond rating. 🙏Har Har Mahadev! 🙏

Age Group :- Senior citizens with usual difficulties in movements.

Day of Visit :- Public holiday. (Despite Month of Saawan, apparently due to Mal-maas, the route was not crowded.)

Mode of travel :- personal four wheeler.

Parking :- Prior to turning right from the Main Road, there was a Naka by some people with Municipal Authority posters on barriers. They charged ₹100/- and gave me a slip. I asked them where is the parking, they answered vaguely that it was close to Railway Station or something. However, since I was a stranger to the place and was following Google for navigation, ended in the narrow road closer to Mandir. On the way, two volunteers asked me if I was headed to Mandir. On affirming they guided us to a place where I could Park the car. It took some efforts but due to lack of any crowd, it was possible to Park. On asking about the Parking charges, he said, no Parking charges, only we have to buy Parasad from his shop. We agreed. He guided us to his shop.

Approach to Temple Area:- From where we parked, Temple was short walking distance. Both sides had shacks typical of any such places of worship.

Prasad/Pooja Samagri Shop :- Our self-styled guide took us to his shop. Offered us to keep our footwear there. Indicated to us the pond for washing hands and feet. He asked if we wanted small size prasad or large size. We were not prepared for this. So we agreed to a regular size with price ₹250/- each. Then he handed us plastic LoTaas of gangajal to each of us with price of ₹50/- each. Then he guided us to the Temple proper.

Way to GarbhaGrih:- the way from the Pond to the Temple proper is very slippery. Old people can only afford to walk slow. However our self-styled guide was in extreme hurry. Soon he took us near a iron grilled side of the Temple, handed us to a Panda. I hoped the Panda will take us to Temple. But he was doing Sankalp.

Sankalp :- so this Panda, called upon us to place our right hand over the prasad Tokri, and started chanting some mantras in Sanskrit. Since we knew Sanskrit ourselves partially, we found that he took wrong name of the date. Then he asked how much of Sankalp we would like to do? Also, how many Brahmins would we like to feed. We did not want to do Sankalp. We just wanted to do Darshan. Panda informed us that it was a Kanoon that minimum Sankalp of ₹500/- was a must for a Darshan. Since, we argued with him and offered only ₹100/- he agreed to proceed ahead at ₹200/-. Then he took the Tokri and asked us to follow our self-styled Guide, who sped off to some direction, leaving us on our own.

Entering the GarbhGrih:- We found our way to the gate of Main Temple. There was a Panda blocking the way. He asked us how much of Sankalp did we do. We told him ₹200/-. He made us an offer, either we pay ₹500/- or more or we go out and do Darshan from far off. We relented and argued as to why should he be blocking the way and demanding a ransom at a place of worship etc. The group of Pandas blocking the entry were really irritated and angry at us. Somehow, they allowed us to proceed.

Darshan:- After a harassing experience of Sankalp and Gate, we reached the main dwar of Temple. It was closed. A big brass lock 🔐 looked upon us. A big iron chain closed the door. A Panda stood to guide us that we could pour out the water at the closed door. It will reach the idol. He also guided us that we could have a peep Darshan through a small hole in the door. We took that advice and had our Darshan. It was 4:30pm. The door would have opened at 6:30pm. Hence, we decided not to wait. Also, I realised the blocking Pandas relented only after the door was locked.

Overall Experience :- Harassment with feeling of shraddha evaporated.

I wonder why the Temple Door needs to be locked with such locks or locked at all..why can't they have...

The Taraknath temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva worshiped as Taraknath, araknath Temple is a famous Hindu shrine located in the town of Tarakeswar in Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. AR View Gallery Taraknath Temple is the prime attraction of Tarakeshwar village of Hooghly District. Taraknath Temple, dedicated to Lord Taraknath, was constructed in the year 1729 by Raja Bharamalla. The temple is built in central West Bengal style of temple architecture with features such as "atchala" and "natmandir". The temple has four roofs above the sanctum sanctorum and extended galleries for the congregation of the devotees. Taraknath Temple is considered among one of the 12 abodes of Lord Shiva or the Jyotirlinga temples in India. This temple also has minor shrines dedicated to Goddess Kali and Lord Lakshmi-Narayan. Some of the auspicious occasions at this temple are Sravan month, Maha Shivratri, Chaitra Sankranti, etc.

More about Tarakeshwar »» Tarakeshwar Temple Tarakeshwar Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and receives a huge number of local devotes on a regular basis. It is one of those places in Hooghly that remain densely packed with visitors throughout the year. The best time to visit this temple is the monsoon season as it hosts a grand fair for devotees during this period. Tarakeshwar temple has got a deep mythological value attached to it and it is believed that a visit to this temple in good faith can fulfil all your wishes.

Festival of Tarakeshwar Temple Numerous devotees and pilgrims visit Tarakeshwar temple from around the country, throughout the year. Most of the pilgrims come particularly on Mondays. Moreover, during the occasions of Gajan and Shivaratri, thousands of devotees throng the temple site. Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year, especially on Mondays. But thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeswar on the occasions of 'Shivaratri' and 'Gajan', the former taking place in Falgun (Feb-March) while the latter lasts for five days ending on the last day of Chaitra (mid-April). The month of Sravana (mid-July to mid-August) is auspicious for Shiva when celebrations are held on each Monday.

Taraknath Temple Kolkata is a wonderful place for religious expeditions. The entire city and its excursions are full of umpteen religious places and holy shrines. One of them is Taraknath Temple of Tarakeshwar, which is located near Kolkata, in Hooghly. It is one of the most revered temples of Tarakeshwar, a form of Lord Shiva. The temple is also one of the oldest in the city, dating back to the...

I want to give you some information for those who are thinking to visit Tarakeswar Temple.

🔸The temple is located in a walking distance from Tarakeswar Railway Station which is well connected with Howrah Jn. Also you can take Toto to reach near temple area.

1. Do not come alone here. Most hotels don't want to give rooms for single person. If you want to come single then go to Tarakeswar Municipality guest house. They have dormitory system. But if you are coming from Kolkata you can keep your belongings to any shop and do the puja. Do not talk with the people who are wearing white dhoti and kurta they are here to loot devotees. Book only room and do not take prasad from hotel. If you don't want to get cheated. Rooms are usually given on 12 hours basis. AC and Non AC rooms are available.

2. Garbhagriha is open for common people. The timings are 6 AM to 9:30 PM and 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM you can enter there. If you are male then you have to take your shirt and vest and take dip in Dudhpukur and offer your prayer to Baba Taraknath. Water Ghat with flowers and gangajal are available from Rs. 10 to 100 and various rates of Prasad are available. You can choose accordingly. Buy Agarbatti and candle from outside otherwise you will be looted by them. I suggest you to not take any Purohits/Pujari for puja. They charge 100 to 500 for chanting few mantras. You can enter the Garbhagriha and touch your prasad to the Shivling of Baba Taraknath. After Puja go to Kaali temple just beside Taraknath Temple in same complex. It's very beautiful too. Do not take photographs or try to take photographs of Baba Taraknath it's prohibited. Try not to visit in Sunday and Monday because those days crowd will be huge.

3. You will find all vegetarian restaurants and eating place near the temple. For breakfast Kachori, Dal, Aloo Dum, Muri, Pakoda, Sweets to Bengali Veg thali are available. Go to Hotel Annapurna for Lunch. The food quality and taste is decent. Veg thali are available from Rs. 70.00 You can buy Achar from Tarakeswar. Achar is famous there with huge varieties.

4. If you are coming from Sheoraphuli, you can visit Seoraphuli Ghat and visit Nistarini Kaali Temple. You will find peace. Just walking distance from Sheoraphuli station.

What are you thinking about. Say Har Har Mahadev and Jai Baba Taraknath and visit the beautiful Tarakeswar temple to take blessings of Baba Taraknath. Bam...